Improved caster for furniture



UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICEc JOHN A. VIEDERSHEIM, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVED CASTER FOR FURNITURE.

Speciiieation forming part of Letters Patent No. 58,523, dated October 2, 1866.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it know n that I, JOHN A. WIEDERsI-IEIM, of the city and county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Caster-Rollers; and I do hereby declare the followingr to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains 'to-make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specilication, in Which- Figure l is a vertical section of a roller illustrating `my invention. Fig. 2 is a modification thereof. Fig. 3 is another moditication. Fig. 4. is a vertical section, showing the parts held in position.

My invention has for iis object the production of a roller to be applied to bedsteads. sofas, chairs, piano-fortes, and like articles of furniture, .which is easily attached and detached, is not liable to destroy the legs thereof, and presents a neat appearance, and is of great convenience and use; and it consists in the combination and arrangement of certain parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described.

A represents a conical socket, by preference of cast malleable iron. rlwo arms, B, project from the bottom of the socket, being cast therewith, which form the bearin g for the axle a of the ordinary wheel b. On the inner face of the bottom of the socket there is a conical pro; jection, c, likewise cast with the socket, the use of which will be hereinafter referred to.

D is a cup or ferrule, which is of ordinary construction, but provided with a Harige, E, on its upper end, and a depression, d, at the center of its bottom. This cup receives the bottom of the leg C of the bedstead or article to which it is applied, and serves as a protection thereto an d a bearing for the socket. The depression receives the projection c of the socket, and serves to overcome friction between the inner surface of the socket A and the outer surface of the cup D. It will be readily seen that when the two parts are applied, or the cap D is dropped into the socket A, the device is ready for use.

In heavy articles of furniture it is not necessary to secure the parts further than placing one within the other, for the weight is such that they are but seldom raised from the ground or floor; but in light chairs it will be convenient to employ a small serew,e. (See Fig. 4.) For this purpose a hole is made through the projection c and the center of the depression d, and the screw run through into the wood and the inner face ofthe head ofthe screw will press the socket lightly up against' the cap D and hold the socket in place, and prevent it from dropping off.

In making the caster for articles of light y use, in using the screw the arms B may be made a little longer in proportion than for heavy articles, or at a more acute angle with the bottom of the socket. This may also be applied to the caster for heavy articles but it is optional with -those who use it. The depression and projection may be made as shown in the drawings, or vice versa, the projection ou the bottom of the cap D and the depression on the inner face of the bottom of the socket A.

It may not be extremely necessary that the cap D should be cast as shown in the draw# ings. Atlanged ring` F, and a plate, G, (with depressions,) both as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, may be employed. I prefer, however, to cast the entire cap in one piece, which will be a cheaper mode of manufacture.

If the casters are not needed at all times, they may be detached and the bottom of the leg of the furniture will be capped, acting as a protection and ready for the application of the socket at any time.

Ihe long` shank hitherto employed, and the corresponding part of boring a sufficiently long hole to receive it, are thus dispensed with. The hole weakens the leg, which is rendered liable to be split or broken-ott' by the great pressure of the shank, and many valuable legs are thus rendered useless, and in fine furniture it is necessary to replace them with new ones at considerable expense.

By the addition of a little oil or lubricator,

my device will work easy and with very little friction.

Instead of riveting an axle to the sides of arms B, (see Fig. 3,) teats g or h may be cast with the arms, as shown in the two inner sides of the arms, and corresponding depressions made inthe wheel. The arms while soft can be opened sufticiently to receive the wheel, and on applying a blow of the hammer the arms will be suitably closed and the teats fit y in the depressions and bear the wheel.

I prefer the axle, however, from the great weight generally resting on it, but do not limit myself to it.

The shape ofthe cup and socket may be cylindrical or conical; but I do not limit myself to any particular form thereof.

` This caster is simple in construction and operation, is easily applied or removed, and can be made as cheap as any in the market. There are no intricate parts to get out or" order, and can thus be made strong and serviceable. I prefer t0 cast all parts of malleable iron; but I do not limit myself to material.

The inner face of the head ofthe screw need not be brought up close to the bottom of the socket, for the revolutions of the latter will work the screw loose and enlarge the hole which receives it. In Fig. 4t the screw is shown as it should be introduced through the parts,'with the head a little below the line of the bottom of the socket.

In raising the leg of a chair or article to which the caster is applied, the socket will drop and rest on the head of the screw, and in bringing the same on the floor again,

the cup will drop into the socket and the screw resume its place, and thus there will be little or no friction on the' screw, for I do not employ the screw for this purpose, but only to hold the parts in proper position.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim therein as n ew, and desire to se cure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination and arrangement of the armed revolving socket A and langed cap D, provided respectively with depressions d and projections c, and operating substantially as described, and for the purpose specied.

To the above I l1avcthis 31st day of July, signed my name.

JOHN A. WIEDERSHEIM.

Vitnesses:

A. S. PRATT, W. READ. 

